By: Briahnna Williams
The vision statement of LeTourneau University, claiming every workplace in every nation, communicates the true calling for Christians, "... go out and make disciples of all nations." As our students grow academically during their undergraduate and/or graduate careers, it is also 
vital that they grow spiritually and truly learn the importance of loving those around them both on LeTourneau’s campus and in Longview, Texas. Dr. Luke Tallon, Professor of Theology and Director of Passage Institute for Youth & Theology, speaks on what the bible defines our neighbor to be: “Israel’s law commands: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18). Luke 10 tells of a lawyer who asks Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ In response, Jesus tells what is now one of the most widely-known texts in the Bible, the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Readers often treat this familiar story as if Jesus simply accepts the lawyer’s question but challenges him to expand the answer to ‘everyone.’ Jesus puts a new question to the lawyer: ‘Who proved to be a neighbor?’ Jesus’ question emphasizes the importance of embodiment for neighborliness. The ‘proving’ of their neighborliness occurs as the priest, Levite, and Samaritan walk on this road at this time and encounter this robbed and beaten stranger.
We respond faithfully to God’s call to love our neighbor in the limits of our embodiment, not despite these limits. Physical proximity is important! Clearly, Jesus shows us that God loves the world (John 3:16) and He invites us into His Kingdom limited neither by geography nor our culture’s social boundaries. In our globalized world, we can even flex the concept of ‘neighbor’ and discuss God’s call to love neighbors both near and far.”
Students on campus value community. LeTourneau Student Ministries (LSM) engages with the student body and provides opportunities on campus for students to grow together.
LSM Vice President Zachary Hash tells of how he has seen God move in some of the on-campus ministries: “I have seen God move in people's hearts by renewing their hunger and authenticity. Something I have appreciated about Prayer and Praise [student-led Sunday night worship] is the purity and hunger of the students who gather to worship, pray, and linger in God's presence together. It is also refreshing to start the new week by putting God first, and you’re surrounded by like-minded students who also prioritize putting God first.”
While it is important for students and faculty to love their neighbors on campus, the Bible stresses how equally important it is to go and love those who we don’t interact with daily:
“The life and ministry of Jesus demonstrates the importance of proximity for neighbor-love…
When he [Jesus] wants to demonstrate God’s love for the Samaritans or the nations, he expands his ministry by going to Samaria or the Decapolis. In the same way, our primary call is to love our geographical neighbors. If God has called us to live and work in a specific area, we should not ignore the particular needs of these neighbors. Jesus is not concerned about generic neighbor love as the priest and the Levite distance themselves from and then pass by the robbed and wounded man. Jesus is interested in what they, and we, do with the neighbor we meet in our embodiment,” said Dr. Luke Tallon.
LSM is dedicated to going out and helping those near and far. Students are encouraged to join in on regular service days and community events. During Spring Break, students sacrifice their time to spend a week on one of the many mission trips offered.
LSM president Haniah McKurtis discusses the ways going out into the community has impacted her spiritual growth: “Reflecting on Jesus’ ministry is vital. I think it’s important to note how Jesus’ ministry started small and then grew over time."
If we are to be like Jesus and make disciples, we also need to expect to see growth like Jesus did, slowly and over time. It takes time to grow, especially with a message so powerful."
LeTourneau is committed to not only teaching students academically, but relationally. Dr. Tallon and other theology professors teach a course (HNRS 3523: Encountering New Communities - Vocation in Action) that educates students on the importance of community and loving those around us. Falt reveals how this class helped changed her outlook on the world: “It’s not about me but about serving others around me like Jesus did.”
During new student orientation and freshman year, students learn about loving the community of Longview. Professors introduce the idea of what it would look like to love our neighbors.
“We believe that God has called students to LeTourneau and has called LeTourneau to this place. So, we invite students to grow in their love for these neighbors.”
Students put into practice the things they learn freshman year and implement them throughout their time at LeTourneau. They learn what it means to serve others as Jesus did and can encounter this first-hand within the Longview community. Megan Falt and a few other students go to the local nursing home (Whispering Pines Lodge) every Saturday to help with the residents. Students play games, sing songs, and chat with the residents during this time of service:
“We've talked with some of the residents about their belief in God and it's so encouraging to talk to the ones that know God and see how they have joy in a situation that might not always be the most comfortable. It's also really cool to be able to share how we believe in Jesus and in an eternal hope that's something that you can hold on to and that it will never fail… Most of them [the residents] will ask if we're coming back next week, and it's always fun to tell them that we do intend to come back because we know that they look forward to having us there."
LeTourneau is equipping men and women to go out and engage with the neighbors wherever the Lord leads them after their college career Dr. Tallon states, “We pray that as students respond faithfully to God’s call they will grow in the virtue of neighborliness. Then, transformed by their experience here, they will move into new neighborhoods ready for lives of neighbor-love at work, at home, and in the community, whether their new neighborhood is just across town or around the world.”
LeTourneau graduate Daniel Yohe (Civil Engineering, 2019) shares how the Lord has continued to help him connect and plug into the current community he’s a part of:
"I work full-time with a company in the Cypress area, northwest of Houston, called Integrity Structural…we live very close to our church… the local church is a good way continuing to have important connections in our culture like I experienced as a student. Right now, our church life group is happening in my home, so we have members over to share a meal and just talk. We get to check in and ask them how we can be praying for them, what are their needs are - both physical and spiritual, and just be a good friend to them. The idea in Acts of breaking bread together, praying, singing songs together... I think that's really cool to have that opportunity. We started a men’s discipleship program a few years ago to actively pull men into the aspects of theology and how our daily lives are affected by it. We have this saying that whatever happens in the group stays, and that’s created a level of trust between the men and a safe space where we can all share testimonies of how God has turned our brokenness around for good.”
Loving our neighbors is the second greatest commandment Jesus tells us in the Bible. Zachary Hash tells of a time where God really showed up on a mission trip, Beach Reach, and gave him the opportunity to truly show God’s love to a neighbor:
"To see the way that Jesus was loving people and how clear it was that it was his love, I was in awe. There was one time in the van ride where we weren’t really connected with people coming in, and we asked 'Lord, give us someone who’s hungry for you.' The next ride, we shared our testimonies and one of the guys began to ask what we meant when we said that God is real. We were able to really explain to him who Jesus was and how good He has been in our lives. It was clearly the Holy Spirit working through us. It was eye-opening to experience what it looks like to live with desperation and dependence on the Holy Spirit and to be able to truly share the Gospel with someone else. I think it’s important to engage with your community because it's an overflow of love that we've received from Jesus.”
The world needs to hear the Gospel and often the way Christians can show the love of Christ is by choosing to love our neighbors - going out into the world to help those who need it most, whether they are 20 minutes away or 20 hours away. Everyone needs to experience the love of Jesus. The LeTourneau family is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and loving our community, loving Longview.
